Bangkok will create low-emission zones in nine districts next year, prohibiting entry to trucks with six or more wheels when fine dust levels become hazardous.
On Tuesday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced new initiatives to combat PM2.5 pollution, which intensifies during the cooler months.
Trucks that have six wheels or more and emit exhaust beyond a specified level will face a three-day ban in the nine designated districts whenever air pollution in five districts escalates to the red zone, defined as 75 micrograms per cubic meter of air or more.
Vehicles that meet the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) standards for clean engines, as verified by a specific checklist, will not be subject to this ban.
Authorities will issue a ban notice 24 hours beforehand, and it will last for three days. Violators could be fined up to 2,000 baht or face a month in jail.
Beginning next month, the BMA will start certifying trucks as part of the “green list” if their owners can demonstrate adherence to maintenance standards that align with City Hall’s regulations. Trucks on this list will not be subject to the ban.
Although the BMA does not control traffic, Mr. Chadchart mentioned that the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act would be utilized to enforce these measures. This act allows provincial governors to address pollution sources within their areas.
Mr. Chadchart also noted that 257 closed-circuit cameras throughout Bangkok would help monitor trucks that violate these regulations. Additionally, inspections will be conducted at locations suspected of contributing to air pollution.
He has urged office workers to telecommute when pollution levels in five districts reach the red zone for two consecutive days, aiming to reduce vehicle traffic.
The low-emission zones include the following districts:
– Bang Rak
– Dusit
– Klong San
– Pathumwan
– Phaya Thai
– Phra Nakhon
– Pomprap Sattruphai
– Samphanthawong
– Sathon
These districts are located within the inner ring road that connects Ratchadaphisek and Charan Sanitwong roads.
In recent years, Bangkok has increasingly struggled with fine-dust pollution, typically from November until the beginning of summer in March.
As of 3pm Tuesday, Bangkok’s air quality was rated as the world’s 50th dirtiest at an IQAir index of 50 micrograms per cubic meter, classified as “moderate” or yellow. The most polluted air recorded was in Lahore, Pakistan, with a reading of 240.